US sanctiones three Republika Srpska officials

This day is considered unconstitutional in Bosnia and Herzegovina. According to the American Treasury, the three sanctioned individuals have helped Dodik's efforts to undermine the Dayton Peace Accord, the authority of the Constitutional Court of Bosnia and the high international representative.

“The United States is deeply concerned over continuing efforts to undermine the Dayton Peace Agreement and the Constitution of Bosnia and Herzegovina, two critical institutions that have been instrumental for peace and stability in the region”, Treasury Undersecretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian Nelson said.

“We will continue to hold all those aiming to stir up divisions to achieve their political goals at the expense of Bosnia and Herzegovina's” people, he added.

The three sanctioned persons are: Branislav Okuka, Jelena Pajiq Bastinac and Srebrenica Goliq.

On January 8, 9th and 10th of 2024, the government of the entity of Republika Srpska organised celebrations for “the day of Republika Srpska” contrary to the decisions of the Constitutional Court of Bosnia, which has declared this day unconstitutional because it gives priority to the religious sub-tensity “, the tradition and customs of the Serbian people only” and thus violates the constitutional commitment to non-discrimption.

Branislav Okuka, Dodik's adviser, told the Srna news agency “that it is a big deal to be on the team of people from the black American list led by President Milorad Dodik”.

The “is a great honor for me to be sanctioned as one of the participants in hosting the January 9th, Republic Day of}, which was the most magnificent and spectacular of this year and I promise you that January 9th next will be better and more massive”, he said.

The high representative, Christian Schmidt, had stated that the January 9th note represented a clear and direct failure to implement final and binding decisions by the Constitutional Court of Bosnia”. According to him, such a violation constitutes criminal offence under the state Penal Code.

Dodik had personally led an organisational committee for celebrations for “the day of Republika Srpska” in the Bosnian Serb entity.

The three sanctioned persons were members of this committee and had attended the November 27, 1923, meeting, where they published the activities to be held for the appointment of this day.

According to the Treasury, with the ease of marking this unconstitutional holiday, these three consciously opposed the conclusions of the Constitutional Court of Bosnia and the high representative and “opened up the contempt for the Dayton Peace Agreement”.

The US said these sanctions are in response to previous incidents, where these officials were involved in “activities that undermined regional stability.

“These actions are part of the U.S. government's broader efforts to promote peace, stability and democratic and functional governance in the Western Balkan region”, Treasury announced.

Sanctions envision blocking all properties and interests these people may have in the United States.

Even earlier, the US has sanctioned various Republika Srpska entity officials for minimising the Dayton Agreement. On January 5, 2022, Dodik was sanctioned by the US after being told he was responsible and involved in the threat of implementing the Dayton Agreement, but also for involvement in corruption activities.

Republika Srpska's president has been sanctioned by the United States in 2017, due to activities presenting threats and obstacles to the implementation of the Dayton Agreement. / REL